Why Creating Playlists Has Made a Big Difference for My YouTube Channel
I'm not a YouTube guru, and I'm definitely not one of the big-time experts with millions of followers—but I do have a YouTube channel called Stumped Riddles, and I've spent countless hours researching ways to improve it.
Along with learning about YouTube's new Algorithm, one of the best pieces of advice I picked up—and something I've personally found incredibly valuable—is the power of creating playlists.
If you're new to YouTube or haven't tapped into the playlist feature much, let me walk you through the reasons why it's something you shouldn't overlook.
1. End Screens + Playlists = More Watch Time
This is the biggest benefit I've found so far.
When uploading long-form videos, YouTube allows you to add an end screen at the end of your video. One of the options you can add to that screen is—you guessed it—a playlist.
Now, you might be thinking, "Okay, so what? It's just a playlist." But here's why it matters: you control what goes in that playlist. If you've several videos on a particular topic (in my case, riddles), you can link viewers directly to related videos using the playlist feature.
And here's where it gets better:
-
On desktop, the full playlist shows up on the right-hand side of the screen. That means even if someone doesn't click the box on your end screen, they might glance over and click another video in the list. Your list occupies that real estate!
-
On mobile, that playlist appears below the video, making it easy for viewers to continue watching your content.
This increases your watch time, and that's something YouTube loves.
2. The Master Playlist: One Place for All Your Videos
If your videos all fall under one broad theme, like mine do, it's a good idea to create a master playlist, along with other category playlists.
The master playlist will contain every video you've published that fits within your channel's overall theme.
As you keep creating, that master list keeps growing—and that's a good thing. People can easily binge on your content, which again boosts your channel's watch time.
This master playlist can also be used on end screens or discovered in searches (more on that below). And just like before, people on desktop see it to the right, and mobile users see it below the video.
3. Break It Down: Organize Your Content into Logical Categories
Besides having a master list, organizing your videos into specific topic-based playlists helps your audience find exactly what they're looking for.
Here are some of the playlists I've created on my channel:
-
Christmas Riddles
-
Halloween Riddles
-
Riddles for Teens, Adults, and Seniors
-
Emotion & Virtue Riddles
-
Food Riddles
-
Nature Riddles
What Am I Riddles
-
And a special one for the Riddle Sisters, a new series I've started
and more....
You can even put one video in multiple playlists if it fits into more than one category. This gives your content more chances to be discovered through different search paths.
Here’s One of My Playlists (Featuring the Custom Cover I Designed):
4. Give Each Playlist a Unique Cover Image
This may seem like a minor detail, but I've found it extremely helpful for visual organization.
You can upload a custom image for each playlist, so that when people visit your YouTube channel homepage, they can instantly spot the difference between categories. I've done this for all of mine—it gives your channel a more polished look and helps guide viewers more easily.
If you're new to it, you'll need to research how to do this, but it's relatively straightforward once you've learned the basics.
5. Write Descriptions for Your Playlists (They Matter!)
This is one thing that's easy to skip, but it's essential: make sure you write a solid description for each of your playlists.
YouTube treats playlist descriptions as part of your searchable content. So, if someone types "Christmas riddles" into the search bar, your "Christmas Riddles" playlist (with the right keywords in the description) might show up, not just your individual videos.
In other words, your playlists can be searchable assets. That's extra real estate on YouTube to help people find your content.
Final Thoughts: Don't Get Overwhelmed—Just Keep Building
If you're just getting started with YouTube, it can seem overwhelming. I've been there—and truthfully, I'm still learning every single day.
My best advice? Don't try to figure everything out at once. Focus on one piece at a time. Playlists were one of those "a-ha" moments for me, and once I got the hang of them, I saw how much they helped, not only with organization but also with growth.
So take it step by step. Learn a little more each time you post a video. And when it comes to playlists, trust me—they're worth the effort.
Time to Solve a Riddle!
Take a breather and try to crack this fun riddle from Wild Roxy of the "famed" Riddle Sisters! It's a YouTube Short—and I'll be sharing tips on Shorts along the way too!
Enjoy!
Wow, you really are learning a lot of ways to use YouTube to present your riddles and increase your viewability. Your playlists look so professional. And you can see at a glance how many views each item on your playlist is getting. Well done, Barbara, with all you are learning and it is very helpful of you to share your new knowledge as you go along.
ReplyDelete